Effortless Clean-Up: Your Guide to Easy, Effective Makeup Removal

Putting on makeup is one of the best ways to spend a day. Choosing different colours, testing new application techniques, and experimenting with new products is simply a dream. Makeup removal, on the other hand? A total nightmare. It’s sometimes almost too tempting to sneak into bed without first getting on with cleaning your face. But even the biggest skincare newbie knows this is basically a cardinal sin.

So, how can you get your face clean when you really don’t feel up to the task? Well, as a fully-fledged lazy person, I’ve come up with a few failsafe methods. Here is my edit of the fastest and most un-annoying ways to clean your face.

Tip 1

Makeup Removal: Full-face

My first tip, particularly for those who indulge in a full face of makeup, is a balm cleanser. There’s nothing like something thick and oily to cut through products and break down longwearing makeup. I prefer balms to oils simply because they’re less dribbly and messy, FYI. A failsafe for me is the Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse. One pump will get everything melted, then use a hot flannel to wipe it away. If you’re balling on a budget, the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm is remarkably similar without handy packaging.

Tip 2

Makeup Removal: Minimal

For those who tend to go for minimal makeup daily, I think you can go straight in with a foaming cleanser to wash your face. I’m a massive fan of the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser, which helps unclog pores and smooth texture but still feels really gentle and non-irritating. 

Sometimes, even reaching for a product is too much to handle. In that case, you can utilise the technological advancement of microfibre to grip onto grime and whisk it away from your beautiful skin. Take My Face Off is an excellent brand specialising in such products. Their Makeup Mitty and Mitty Mini are both little pouches you stuff your fingers in and then run under hot water to clean off your face. And for bold lipstick lovers, the red-toned Mitty Pout will save you a lifetime of stained washcloth woes.

A similar product, but one I prefer to use alongside a cleanser, is the Croon Cleansing Pads. These little microfiber disks help your cleaner of choice go further. For a more invigorating clean, the Croon Exfoliating Pads are also excellent. On a clean face, I use these more in the morning, as they’re a little scratchy around the eyes.

And if you can’t resist a typical washcloth look, the Primark Microfibre Cloths are for you. I’ve spoken about these ad nauseam in writing and to everyone I know. If you’re curious whether a cloth can remove makeup, look no further.

Tip 3

Makeup Removal: No Time

Finally, let’s talk about those nights when you simply cannot get to a sink. We all know a “proper” wash is the best method – but sometimes, that just isn’t feasible. For those times, wiping your makeup off is far preferable to not taking any action. Go for either a micellar water (the SVR Physiopure Micellar Water is my go-to) on a cotton pad or some micellar-based wipes (Garnier Micellar Extra Gentle Cleansing Wipes are incredibly effective) – and don’t beat yourself up.